Our Big Backyard magazine

Turn to Our Big Backyard for all your nature news and other regional highlights, including feature stories, field guides, Q&As, upcoming events, a photography contest and much more.

Subscribers receive the magazine for free four times a year: early January, late March, late June and late September. Decide which version is right for you: the tabloid-size print edition or the interactive digital version.

Kolberg: I "discovered" the Kelly Creek Pond at Mt. Hood Community College again about a month ago. I had not seen it for several years, and it is looking much better than I remember. This morning I sat out for almost 3 hours to get just the right shot of

"I 'discovered' the Kelly Creek Pond at Mt. Hood Community College again about a month ago. I had not seen it for several years, and it is looking much better than I remember. This morning I sat out for almost 3 hours to get just the right shot of a cormorant and a blue heron together, fishing the pond. In this photo, the cormorant had just come out of the pond and was shaking off the water, getting ready to sit and dry."

During an after-work walk on Sauvie Island, I caught a big blur drop down through the trees. I stopped dead in my tracks. I could sense whatever had landed there and moved slowly and quietly toward it until I could see this sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter s

"During an after-work walk on Sauvie Island, I caught a big blur drop down through the trees. I stopped dead in my tracks. I could sense whatever had landed there and moved slowly and quietly toward it until I could see this sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus) through the brush."

Wells: Walking through Camassia Natural Area in West Linn, I saw some beautiful butterflies flying between the flowers. I knelt in a squishy spot to get down low enough to snap this shot of a cedar hairstreak butterfly (Callophrys gryneus) on a daisy.

"Walking through Camassia Natural Area in West Linn, I saw some beautiful butterflies flying between the flowers. I knelt in a fairly squishy spot to get down low enough to snap this shot of a cedar hairstreak butterfly (Callophrys gryneus) on a daisy."

Graham Oaks Nature Park: Though smaller than fox or gray squirrels, Douglas squirrels make up for their lack of size with a bold “get out of my space” attitude. Normally I only hear them barking at me from some high-up limb in a Douglas fir. This frisky c

"Though smaller than fox or gray squirrels, Douglas squirrels make up for their lack of size with a bold “get out of my space” attitude. Normally I only hear them barking at me from some high-up limb in a Douglas fir. This frisky character was out foraging for pine cones and wasn’t willing to let go of his breakfast as I approached."

"While leading a group of 12 first graders on a crawdad adventure along the Clackamas River, we discovered this big beauty with a broken wing drowning in the water. After 10 minutes of sunbathing, it was able to fly away."

"While leading a group of 12 first graders on a crawdad adventure along the Clackamas River, we discovered this big beauty with a broken wing drowning in the water. After 10 minutes of sunbathing, it was able to fly away."

Seely Ditch wetland in Wilsonville on a beautiful early Monday morning in May. Songbirds singing, local beaver working on home repairs, migrating geese making their grand entrance back to summer nesting areas. Even an occasional pheasant making his debut.

"Seely Ditch wetland in Wilsonville on a beautiful early Monday morning in May. Songbirds singing, local beaver working on home repairs, migrating geese making their grand entrance back to summer nesting areas. Even an occasional pheasant making his debut. Life is good in the Northwest!"

Katy Parsons: On the dry days during late winter and early spring, my neighbors and I often kayak down the Columbia River Slough and watch the migratory birds. We are so lucky to have such an amazing place to watch wildlife so close to the city!

"On dry days during late winter and early spring, my neighbors and I often kayak down the Columbia Slough and watch the migratory birds. We are so lucky to have such an amazing place to watch wildlife so close to the city!"

Piper Hope: This was on the river trail at Oxbow Regional Park. We have kids who love looking for where the fairies live, and this spot was deemed highly probable for a fairy house. Oxbow is our favorite park. Most of our summer afternoons are spent on th

"This was on the river trail at Oxbow Regional Park. We have kids who love looking for where the fairies live, and this spot was deemed highly probable for a fairy house. Oxbow is our favorite park. Most of our summer afternoons are spent on the beach, and we love exploring the trails year round."

"My son, father-in-law and I had been fishing all evening on the dock at the Gilbert River Boat Ramp on Sauvie Island. I hadn't been to Sauvie Island in many years. I may not have caught any fish, but I definitely walked away with a keeper."

"My son, father-in-law and I had been fishing all evening on the dock at the Gilbert River Boat Ramp on Sauvie Island. I hadn’t been to Sauvie Island in years. I may not have caught any fish, but I definitely walked away with a keeper."

summer OBB contest winner by Dylan Abel: "Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area is one of my favorite spots to paddle. I maneuvered my kayak so that Mount Hood would be in the background when I took a photo of this couple canoeing."

"While I was walking my dog through Cathedral Park with my husband, the sun was setting perfectly behind the river."

"I have the Fanno Creek Trail right behind my house. One morning I decided to take my dog for a walk on the trail. While on the trail I happened to look over and this great blue heron was standing on a branch on a tree. After a while, he hopped into the c

"I have the Fanno Creek Trail right behind my house. One morning I decided to take my dog for a walk on the trail. While on the trail I happened to look over and this great blue heron was standing on a branch on a tree. After a while, he hopped into the creek and fished out a creature of some sort."

"I snapped this photo of the owl on my property, which is bordered on two sides by Cooper Mountain Nature Park. Momma and her baby have been living, hunting and training in the trees around the park all spring and summer."

Yi-Ling W. Yong: My husband and I had an enjoyable and relaxing afternoon at Blue Lake Regional Park. We were paddling on the lake and walking along the lake and simply appreciated the view of Mount Hood and the natural environment.

"My husband and I had an enjoyable and relaxing afternoon at Blue Lake Regional Park. We were paddling on the lake and walking along the lake and simply appreciated the view of Mount Hood and the natural environment."

Our Big Backyard photo contest spring 2015 winner: Anne Lenzi, Aloha

"Early morning hikes have become a tradition for my family. On this particular morning in November we chose one of our favorite parks, Cooper Mountain Nature Park. We were walking along the Cooper Mountain Loop when we spotted this amazing rough skinned newt on the trail."

"Taken at Leona Lake right outside of Milwaukie, I was out for a walk in the new fallen snow, and what made me stop and take this photo was the quiet. In a world where things are never silent, in this moment everything was peaceful. Not even a bird could be heard, no cars passing, just the silent beauty of the moment captured on film."

Fall 2014 winner: Oxbow Regional Park by Len Otto, Boring

Our Big Backyard photo contest fall 2014 winner: Len Otto, Boring

"My wife and I love Oxbow Regional Park. Every year we buy the annual pass and use it probably 250 times. Recently, we went for an early Sunday morning walk for the exercise and to try out a new lens. The color of the salmonberry has always been a favorite. The shot of the unfurling bloom with a water droplet about to fall was the first shot ever with my new lens. I was delighted, and even more delighted when I got home and looked at it on my computer screen. I could not have hoped for better. Oxbow never fails us."

"My youngest daughter, Irene, waves at friends canoeing alongside us through a portion of the Columbia Slough near Whitaker Ponds. Big sister Harriet and my husband paddle in back. All around us, dreamy golden mid-October splendor and abundant birds. Belted kingfishers rattle, a great blue heron lands heavily on a flimsy tree branch, and we're lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a beaver on land before she slips back into the water."

"Whenever my family from California visit, I take my 11-year-old grandson, Will, on a nature outing. We’ve climbed Beacon Rock and explored Chanticleer Point, hiked and observed birds at Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. On New Year’s Day, Will and I went to Cooper Mountain Nature Park, taking Will’s younger sister Sasha, 6, with us for her first outing. The two of them enjoyed the trees, bushes and birds on this foggy day, interacting with nature and each other. They both appreciated and learned from nature."

"My son, Patrick, looks for bugs along a trail at Graham Oaks Nature Park. In the background houses skirt the north side of the park, a reminder that in Wilsonville and much of the Portland metro region, nature can be close to home. On this spring visit, we enjoyed the trail through the open savanna, where it will take some time for all the newly planted oaks to grow – as well as the trail winding through the oak woodlands, providing plenty of opportunities to turn over a log and look for more bugs."

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